Billy Preston: Most likely the next LeBron James

[Kouki]

He's only ever played in situations where he was the 1A though, sans 3 games in Europe.

 

[Douglar]

Do you know of character issues? Behavioral problems?

Here's "the glass's work ethic is half-empty" view point---

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/university-of-kansas/article213743594.html

Preston was held out of the opener against Tennessee State as penalty for missing curfew and a class, and missed the next 18 contests as KU compliance and the NCAA looked into the financial picture surrounding a car he had been driving in Lawrence during the school year.​

So:

1. Missed Curfew
2. Missed Class
3. Had an unexplained mystery car
4. Gets into a "single vehicle" accident with said mystery car after previously getting penalized for missing curfew & class

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/university-of-kansas/article203479564.html

“Our player Billy Preston has been experiencing consistent discomfort in his left shoulder for the past two weeks. He is going to return to the U.S. to consult with a physician and physical therapist,” BC Igokea general manager Igor Dodik said in a statement on the team’s official website. “We have such a short season left we don’t want to put him in jeopardy so we support what is best for him to get the best treatment as soon as possible”.
​

Maybe he had an acute undiagnosed shoulder discomfort from an undisclosed injury, but this sounds suspiciously like a PR person saying "We are trying to part ways amicably in a manner that lets everyone save face but we don't want this kid here anymore, he's not helping"

Hope the kid turns things around, but so far it seems like he's not doing such a great job with a career in basketball.

 

[inliner311]

Here's "the glass's work ethic is half-empty" view point---

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/university-of-kansas/article213743594.html

Preston was held out of the opener against Tennessee State as penalty for missing curfew and a class, and missed the next 18 contests as KU compliance and the NCAA looked into the financial picture surrounding a car he had been driving in Lawrence during the school year.​

So:

1. Missed Curfew
2. Missed Class
3. Had an unexplained mystery car
4. Gets into a "single vehicle" accident with said mystery car after previously getting penalized for missing curfew & class

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/university-of-kansas/article203479564.html

“Our player Billy Preston has been experiencing consistent discomfort in his left shoulder for the past two weeks. He is going to return to the U.S. to consult with a physician and physical therapist,” BC Igokea general manager Igor Dodik said in a statement on the team’s official website. “We have such a short season left we don’t want to put him in jeopardy so we support what is best for him to get the best treatment as soon as possible”.
​

Maybe he had an acute undiagnosed shoulder discomfort from an undisclosed injury, but this sounds suspiciously like a PR person saying "We are trying to part ways amicably in a manner that lets everyone save face but we don't want this kid here anymore, he's not helping"

Hope the kid turns things around, but so far it seems like he's not doing such a great job with a career in basketball.

He also went to 4 high schools. With the unknown from not playing in college and the questionable loyalty to teams, it's understandable he went undrafted. It would have been either lock him down to a contract and on the 15 man roster or have a high risk of wasting a pick.

On side note, the NBA still needs to figure out better ways to get guys into the g-league over going to Europe. Two way contracts help but they will still make more in Europe and teams retain rights to players. Europe is still the better option for alot of teams and players.

I would love another roster spot that is in-between the two way and a regular roster spot. Basically the reverse of the two way where they are with the NBA team and get paid NBA mininium. Then some stipulation like the player must be a rookie 2nd round pick or undrafted, or a player upgraded from a two way contract from the year before. Only allow a player to be on that roster spot for one year. Like the two way players they don't count towards your cap.

 

[red.]

Billy explains.

 

[stowfan]

Preston may very well not have it mentally, but I wouldn't rush to judgement. I have a 23 year old son who in the last year, has been "born again" when it comes to attending to his responsibilities. Preston, with heavy supervision and a decent advisor for once in his life, could do a complete about face. I would be embarrassed to tell you what I was up to at his age.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

I like Billy. He may be goofy and probably delusional...but he is funny.

Keep him as a cheerleader first and see what to do with him later.

 

[TitleTown]

Billy explains.

When I watch this video, I hear a young kid who has learned the hard way about having to prove himself. He has realized that his high school hype wasn't as valuable as he thought.

If he is willing to work, he's going to have a legit shot to make it.

 

[Kouki]

Here's "the glass's work ethic is half-empty" view point---

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/university-of-kansas/article213743594.html

Preston was held out of the opener against Tennessee State as penalty for missing curfew and a class, and missed the next 18 contests as KU compliance and the NCAA looked into the financial picture surrounding a car he had been driving in Lawrence during the school year.​

So:

1. Missed Curfew
2. Missed Class
3. Had an unexplained mystery car
4. Gets into a "single vehicle" accident with said mystery car after previously getting penalized for missing curfew & class

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/university-of-kansas/article203479564.html

“Our player Billy Preston has been experiencing consistent discomfort in his left shoulder for the past two weeks. He is going to return to the U.S. to consult with a physician and physical therapist,” BC Igokea general manager Igor Dodik said in a statement on the team’s official website. “We have such a short season left we don’t want to put him in jeopardy so we support what is best for him to get the best treatment as soon as possible”.
​

Maybe he had an acute undiagnosed shoulder discomfort from an undisclosed injury, but this sounds suspiciously like a PR person saying "We are trying to part ways amicably in a manner that lets everyone save face but we don't want this kid here anymore, he's not helping"

Hope the kid turns things around, but so far it seems like he's not doing such a great job with a career in basketball.

Thanks for the info, that's the best breakdown I've seen by far.

I still believe in the point I made earlier though, that if he is on a LeBron team he will get his ass in gear.

 

[Cavatt]

Skipping class and staying out too late was something I did in college and 99% of people do I am sure. He has paid a huge price for hsi behavior as well. He probably cost himself millions of dollars. Some people that is enough to wake them up, some people nothing is enough. I am rooting for this kid. I think he was done dirty by one of the dirtiest organizations ever. Still, he has a lot to prove.

 

[mrWalrus]

When I watch this video, I hear a young kid who has learned the hard way about having to prove himself. He has realized that his high school hype wasn't as valuable as he thought.

If he is willing to work, he's going to have a legit shot to make it.

He's in Bosnia(in that video). That's an eye-opener. He now has the chance to play with LeBron. That's a lucky break. He's going to work his ass off.

 

[BrutX15]

When you read the title to this thread you must read it like this just for sanity purposes...

 

[Douglar]

Skipping class and staying out too late was something I did in college and 99% of people do I am sure. He has paid a huge price for hsi behavior as well. He probably cost himself millions of dollars. Some people that is enough to wake them up, some people nothing is enough. I am rooting for this kid. I think he was done dirty by one of the dirtiest organizations ever. Still, he has a lot to prove.

Most of us didn't attend a tier 1 basketball program or have a curfew. Hard to imagine that they didn't sit him down and explain what would happen if he broke the rules or what the NCAA policies were on "gift" cars the day he showed up. Hard to imagine that he didn't know that millions of dollars were on the line. This guy broke the team rule before his season even started. When stuff like this happens, Charles Barkley says:

 

[Cavatt]

Most of us didn't attend a tier 1 basketball program or have a curfew. Hard to imagine that they didn't sit him down and explain what would happen if he broke the rules or what the NCAA policies were on "gift" cars the day he showed up. Hard to imagine that he didn't know that millions of dollars were on the line. This guy broke the team rule before his season even started. When stuff like this happens, Charles Barkley says:

Great point. I agree with the class and curfew, the real story about the car never came out. Also Kansas is like ground 0 for barely hidden NCAA violations. He prob thought he was untouchable.

That vice thing on him in Europe was the most troubling to me. He had a real sense of entitlement and it sounds like he had trouble adjusting. I am really hoping that Sexton and our other young guys show him what it is like to work hard.

 

[Douglar]

the real story about the car never came out

True that.

All I could find out was that while he was suspended from the team, he was driving a car on campus on a Saturday and hit a curb hard enough to damage the car's tire. The real police were not called, just campus people. Something about accident set off an alarm in the school's compliance department. It never leaked who owned the car, what kind of car it was, what time of day the accident happened or what Billy was doing in the car at the time.

The Bosnian injury was remarkably similar. We don't how it happened, when it happened, or if it went away. We just know that it was something else that stopped him from playing basketball again.

Neither situation is definitely a cover-up but the fuzzy details surrounding both situations suggest that there could be more details about both situations that nobody wanted to disclose.

Here's hoping that adversity is teacher that Billy can hear.

 

[TitleTown]

Here's hoping that adversity is teacher that Billy can hear.

Whether or not it will be, sometimes people need 2 or 3 fuck-ups before they look honestly at themselves.

We will be his 3rd stop after 2 fuck-ups. Hopefully this chance to change effects him positively.